A Norwegian clothing brand founded in 2003, Moods of Norway launched its first store in the U.S. this summer, located in Los Angeles.
Recently the trio was in New York City discussing how they established their funky fashion line and in the process brought renewed attention to Norway.
“We began by making a 30-piece collection aided by a grant we received by the Norwegian government of about $10,000,” says Staalnacke. “We wanted to make a concept that combines products with a touch of Norwegian history.”
What they did was focus on stories of Norway and Norwegian people, woven into the design of their clothes and accessories. A suit jacket with a number embroidered on the sleeve (the number of registered trucks in Norway), a dress inspired by Norwegian ice-skating queen Sonja Henie, a T-shirt with a spray can print on it (in case you didn’t know — as we did not — the spray can was invented by a Norwegian), another T-shirt featuring instructions on how to get to Norway, another one with a print of Grandma’s best waffle recipe, yet another tells how many kilos of potatoes the average Norwegian family consumes annually, and then there are jeans with extra deep pockets that have “flat out broke” printed inside them. These are just a few of their clever ideas.
“We like the clash between the old and the new more than anything,” Staalnacke continues. “To combine old Norwegian rosemaling-patterns with new cuts and materials and strong colors. We certainly don’t want to make clothes that look like Norwegian folk costumes.”
Moods of Norway has been spotted on celebrities like Dave Navarro, Rumer Willis and Macy Gray. And now you can get some Norwegian moods yourself. Take a look inside their Los Angeles store at 113 S. Robertson Blvd., telephone: 1 310 271 7172. Or check out their Web site: www.moodsofnorway.com